Many people refer to prisons as places of condemnation rather than correction centres. A prison in Western Lakes has embarked on a campaign to change this perception through the introduction of sports activities for their inmates.
The objective of the prison officials is to keep inmates physically and mentally fit and active, and for the prisoners to have better stories to tell the outside world after serving their sentences.
Responding to pleas from the jails in the area, Rumbek-based Nepalese peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan have completed the construction of a badminton court at the South Sudan Western Lakes Prison in Rumbek.
Major Joseph Majak, a senior superintendent at the prison, welcomed the court and the badminton equipment.
“This is fantastic. Sometime back we talked to UNMISS to give us facilities to help start up sports activities for prisoners. Today they have responded with badminton. Now we are waiting for volleyball materials,” said Major Majok.
Prisons authorities in the area have a plan to offer their inmates other sports disciplines, like soccer, perhaps to establish a club in the future.